Lentil Soup – Because It’s Good – And It Doesn’t Hurt that It’s Inexpensive
A Hearty, Economical Meal
In my reading I found a site called “Never Say Diet”. The article that caught my attention was how to cook meals for $1. In this economy, many people are looking for a way to make their budgets stretch a bit, and this article was full of ideas for inexpensive, but healthy, ingredients that would do just that. If you recall a few weeks ago I discussed the issue of food stamps, and how well someone could eat on only $176 per month. Well, if they followed this article’s suggestions, there would be money to spare. The only counter argument that could be made is that the meals assume a certain level of basic supplies in the house such as spices, cooking oils, and the like. But, once again, this shopping list will leave enough for a well-stocked kitchen. Some of the recommended items included oatmeal for breakfast (which I eat 4-5 times each week anyway), peanut butter for lunch (Annie’s favorite take-along to school), and lentils for dinner.
We just so happen to be having lentil soup tonight, because my car is in for repair and I couldn’t do my weekly shopping today. It was easy enough to put together a pot of lentil soup with inexpensive ingredients I had on hand including onions, garlic, bacon, canned tomatoes, celery, carrots, dried lentils, and pasta. As you can see, this is a well-balanced, meal in a pot. This is also the kind of meal my mother made, and her mother before her. This is old school, frugal cooking that someone from the depression era would have turned to often. But the fact is that this is soul food to me. It’s good to have an excuse to break out the old recipes and rediscover them for current times.
Those Sneaky Little Kids
A Siren Call for Kids
I just read a report on a study that was done in Austria, which observed the shopping habits of parents accompanied by children. The study showed that parents underestimated by half the number of items they purchased in supermarkets resulting from the influence of their children. Researchers said that the majority of purchase decisions were made in the store leaving parents exposed to the persuasive efforts of their children. If the child made the request nicely and clearly, their manners and determination were rewarded.
Even without a study, I can strongly confirm the results based on my years of experience. Years ago I realized the damage my kids do to my shopping budget, and as they’ve grown older, I’m much less likely to take them along to the supermarket on days when they’re home from school.
Besides not bringing them along when I shop, here are a few other strategies I’ve used to keep a grip on my budget with kids in tow. First, it’s very helpful to shop with a plan. 99% of the time I head to the market for my weekly shopping, I’ve planned my menu for the week, and have a specific list of items to purchase. I may leave some items open-ended – for example I may write down “fruit” but wait until I arrive at the store to choose what looks best for the price. With a shopping list in hand, it’s clear to me what I really need, and what is just a little “treat” for the kids, which I usually allow one per child.
Another trick I’ve employed is to allow them to feel like they’re making decisions, by giving them the healthy items to choose. I may tell them each to choose a vegetable as a dinner side dish. Then they feel the power of choosing, while really picking something I needed anyway.
Finally, since I’ve been shopping at Whole Foods, there’s so much less commercial temptation for them. They may sample a cheese and ask for it, or request a special fruit juice, but they aren’t bombarded by end of aisle displays showcasing the latest and greatest commercial products. This has saved our budget immensely. For a time I belonged to one of those warehouse clubs, but I soon learned that shopping there led to large scale purchases of things we didn’t need, just because they looked like such a good deal. One of the girls would ask for something, and it’s hard to turn down. But that leads to two problems – an unnecessary expenditure, and a closet full of unnecessary snack foods.
My final tip is to always beware and pay attention to what you’re doing with your kids in tow. They have a funny way of distracting us from what they don’t want us to see. Little kids can be sneakier than you think.
Have Our Appetites Switched their Moral Cores?
It Began in the Garden of Eden
I came upon a very interesting, thought provoking paper from the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, that raises the question “Is Food the New Sex?”. It’s worth reading the entire article, but I’ll try to summarize the main points.
Author Mary Eberstadt argues the point that our two main, human drives are food and sex, and she questions what happens when we have unprecedented access to both. Whereas once there was a society-wide acceptance of a moral code for sex, and food preferences never invoked moral judgements, the two have reversed roles. Society accepts many diverse sexual choices regarding pre-marital, extra-marital, homosexual, and pornography without feeling the need to pass judgement. On the other hand, she argues, there is a new morality regarding our food choices and whether we’re eating food that is organic, free-range, unprocessed, etc. Her conclusion is that humans need to have a moral code somewhere in our lives, and if the sexual code has been dropped, we can apply it to our food choices, as silly as that may seem.
I believe that for some people, her point may be true, but I don’t feel that it’s universal. After all, there are many in our society who don’t think twice about the food choices they make day to day. But it’s interesting to ponder all of the other possible moral switches that may have occurred. In the same way some people are religious about their food choices, others may be religious about the way they raise their children – condemning others who don’t pursue the insane parenting program they’ve adopted. In another example, the point has recently been raised in the media that breast feeding advocates have taken on a militant, judgemental role, accusing those who choose to bottle feed their babies.
Finally, I would also argue that this switch has happened, not because our sexual moral code has been loosened, but because traditional religions have lost their hold over our society, and people adrift are seeking a new moral code to follow. What do you think?